Basotho Kingdom

Basotho Kingdom was a state in South Africa and Namibia (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from c. 1822 to 1868 CE, about 46 years. Its people spoke Bantu languages (Kongo, Shona, Zulu, Swahili, Luba, Ganda).

Moshoeshoe I gathered refugees of the Difaqane on the mountain fortress of Thaba Bosiu and forged the Basotho nation. Losing land in wars with the Orange Free State, he asked for British protection in 1868.

See Basotho Kingdom on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 1822 to 1868 CE

Duration

46 years

Type

State

Region

South Africa and Namibia, Central and Southern Africa

Language family

Bantu

Capital

Thaba Bosiu

Became

• Basutoland 1868 to 1966 CE

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

• 1836 The Great Trek begins

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE
• Zulu Kingdom 1816 to 1897 CE
• Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
• Bunyoro-Kitara c. 1400 to 1899 CE
• Portuguese Mozambique 1505 to 1975 CE
• Portuguese Angola 1575 to 1975 CE
• Luba Empire c. 1585 to 1889 CE
• Lunda Empire c. 1665 to 1887 CE
• Rozvi Empire c. 1660 to 1866 CE
• Omani East Africa 1698 to 1856 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia
• Viceroyalty of Peru 1542 to 1824 CE, South America
• Qing dynasty 1636 to 1912 CE, East Asia
• United States 1776 CE to the present, North America
• United Kingdom 1801 CE to the present, Europe
• Haiti 1804 CE to the present, Mesoamerica and Caribbean

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